An historic quayside pub has called last orders, before starting a new lease of life as an office.

The Star and Garter, in Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth, will be taken over by Aldreds as it expands its headquarters next door.

Mark Duffield, chief executive of Aldreds Chartered Surveyors, said the firm was looking to move its property management service from Regent Street to the Star and Garter.

Bosses saw the opportunity to group Yarmouth staff on one site, and have lodged a planning application with the borough council.

'We hope the whole thing will grow organically,' added Mr Duffield. 'It's part of a long-term strategy.'

The pub was originally on the south side of Row 57, Sarah Martin Row.

It was called the Crown and Thistle before changing its name to the Star and Garter, in reference to the highest order of knighthood in Britain.

In 1819 it was a Lacon's house.

The pub later moved to the north side of the row, when the bank of Lacon, Youell and Co expanded into the former pub building.

Its current site, soon to become an Aldreds office, used to be the house of Lady and Major Orde in the 19th century.

A former landlord of the pub, Ralph Morgan, called time on it in late 2008.

He said a lot of investment was needed to modernise the pub, as its sash windows needed updating and work was needed on the electrics.

'It is a real character pub which has been used by offshore people over the years, including many seamen, and it will be really sad to see it go,' he told the Mercury at the time. 'Hopefully, someone will buy it off the brewery and invest money to do it up.'

It re-opened, but has been closed for some weeks.

The Aldreds planning application is for change of ground floor use to office space and first floor for a meeting room.

Aldreds is a residential and commercial property business, founded in 1857.

It has five offices and employs 35 people.